Oral question asked in the House of Commons, by Vera Baird (Labour). It was answered by Jim Fitzpatrick (Labour) on Wednesday, 6 July 2005 on behalf of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Teesport (Expansion)

Question: What assessment he has made of the effects on regeneration in the Tees valley of port expansion at Teesport.

Answer: Mr. Speaker, as you know, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister is unable to be present at Deputy Prime Minister questions today, as he will be representing my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister at Prime Minister's questions. [Interruption.] I am sure that my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister will be pleased to hear the welcome that he receives even before he arrives in the Chamber. I can tell my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Redcar (Vera Baird) that the northern way action plan launched in Gateshead on 20 June sets out clearly the wider economic benefits that would flow from the development of the facilities at Teesport—for the Tees valley, the north and the UK as a whole.

Secondary information